by GERARD S. HOFF aka (GONG SAN HO)

Month: May 2016

Nature delivers the greatest Zen masters in learning how to live in the presence.

Ever wondered why it is so difficult to hit a fly?
Their secret is that they’re consciousness is so much in the presence, the sense 0,5 seconds in the future and 0,5 seconds in the past, so are gone before you’re even think of hitting.

Like this:

Nature delivers the greatest Zen masters in learning how to live in the presence.

Imagine a brid faster then a Ferrari. It exists and its Latin name is Falco peregrinus. Its normal airspeed is 105-115 kilometers per hour, but when it dives it reaches velocities that exceed 320 km/h!

How?

It climbs up to a high altitude and gravity plus a perfect body shape does the rest. Nostrils and eyelids are protected, because of the pressure is so high.

Be the falcon, shape your being to reduce friction and use the power of gravity.

Like this:

Nature delivers the greatest Zen masters in learning how to live in the presence.

I was staring at a cow laying in the meadow relaxed and ruminating.
It was staring back at me with big, lazy eyes. At least so it seems on the outside. Inside a huge factory is working. Eating, swallowing, pre-processing, ruminating and swallow again, using 4 stomachs.

Be the cow when interacting with othes, swallow, pre-process and ruminate the words, before you react.

Like this:

Your mind is in a constant mode of doing marathons. Most of the time you’re not knowing what you’re thinking, that you’re thinking, how you’re thinking, who is thinking and why ‘it’ is thinking. So many unfinished thoughts, just lingering in your mind.
It’s a busy place up there.

Now imagine driving a mountainbike (it could be a car, but then it is difficult to end the story…). Fortunately, our brain has a sub-routine that is able to manage the constant stream of thoughts while doing a complex thing like biking.

But sometimes you’re too pre-occupied with thoughts and not paying enough attention to biking, the road and the obstacles, Suddenly there’s an abyss.

In a reflex you turn your wheel, your whole life passes in an instant before your eyes, you fall on to the ground, your bike keeps sliding, but you somehow you’re able to grab a branch of some kind and manage to hold.

Then there’s this silence.
A few seconds later you hear your bike crash.

In the reflex, your mind stopped thinking instantly. It is exactly then when your consciousness takes over. This reflex is the deepest part of your being that reacts. The thinking of the mind becomes obsolete. It is this sensation I believe we should embrace more often.

It is the angel in you. And you can use the angel, because she’s is in anyone of us, spread your wings, fly up and look from a distance at yourself. Become aware, as a watcher, of your own thoughts. You’ll probably have a lot of laughs! It doesn’t have to be on a constant basis (that is impossible), but be aware.

Just now and then, during the day, become the watcher, release the angel.

Imagine you’re an angel but are not able to use your magnificent wings because somehow, it is not accepted. Because it’s weird and out of the ordinary. What would you do?

Wings are hard to hide. Their too big and they’re also a piece of art. Let’s face it, art should not be hidden in a darkened cold cellar, it has to be out in the open.

Talents are like the wings of an angel.

Showing them is out of the ordinary and catches (too much?) attention. But, is the opinion of the less talented the convention? Or the opinions of the ones that are too shy or insecure, hiding their own wings? No.

Spread you’re wings so you can fly and people look up in wonder instead of looking down at the floor. Using your wings inspires everybody, sooner or later, direct or indirect, small or big. But most of all, it will inspire the hidden angels to spread their wings as well.

Like this:

She drained the energy out of me in a way, even a Duracell Power Plus battery couldn’t handle for long. She was full of negative energy almost to a level I had difficulties coping with it. Fortunately, I was aware in time, and wasn’t sucked into this river of negativity.

It was clear, our visitor was a very unhappy person.
She blamed past (and future) of the heavy life she is in now. Her ‘egoic’ controlled mind was driving her behaviour a 100% and blamed anyone and everything as the cause of her misery. Even I couldn’t change her mind in a positive way, and believe me I tried.

It made me realize how strong the mind or ego can be in controlling behaviour and life, by squeezing out all oxygen out of consciousness. A terrible feeling.

The Mind,
it is talking continuously in my head as well, so I was wondering how much it controls my behaviour (and fears) and how to handle that in relation to my consciousness. I too have negative thoughts, feel anxious or insecure now and then, have judgements about others. I know it’s my ‘egoic’ mind that takes control, but I want my spirit to be. I want my spirit to be free and in direct contact with the source.

Instantly it became clear: It is the moment I think of my mind thinking.

It is then I am becoming the watcher of my thoughts and thus ‘in control’ of them and closer to consciousness. It is that space I want to be, briefly at least, or longer when possible.

So, the moment you’re aware of thoughts (negative and positive), you’re able to put things into a perspective (enlightenment). A perspective where mind and consciousness (ego and being) can team up and create synergy. All thoughts, bad and good, are positive energy, it is important be aware of the thoughts, in order to tap into the infinite source of energy.